1Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord?
2If I am not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you. For ye are the seal of mine apostleship in the Lord.
3Mine answer to those who examine me is this:
4Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as do other apostles and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6Or is it I only and Barnabas who have not power to forbear working?Œ
7Who goeth to war at any time at his own expense? Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8Say I these things as a man, or saith not the law the same also?
9For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." Doth God take care for oxen,
10or doth He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it so great a thing if we should reap your worldly things?
12If others are partakers of this power over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this power, but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ.
13Do ye not know that those who minister concerning holy things live of the things of the temple, and those who wait upon the altar are partakers with the altar?
14Even so hath the Lord ordained that those who preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel.
15But I have used none of these things; neither have I written, that these things should be so done unto me. For it would be better for me to die than that any man should make my glorying void.
16For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory about, for necessity is laid upon me. Yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel!
17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensing of the Gospel is committed unto me.
18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the Gospel, I may make the Gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the Gospel.
19For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;
21to those who are outside the law, as outside the law (though not outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ), that I might gain those who are outside the law.
22To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24Know ye not that those who run in a race all run, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain it.
25And every man that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
26I therefore so run, but not with uncertainty; I so fight, but not as one that beateth the air.Œ
27But I keep control of my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.